[Cliff Etzel]

Erik - Eloquently stated.

Originally posted by Erik
Hi all, the common concensus is that you should wait until either your computer clears, or your tables clear you of nitrogen. Because DCS science falls somewhere between science and art, there is always the risk, even within the parameters of tables and computers.
Since I started freediving 3 years ago, I've use compressed air less and less. For the last 2 years, I've only used scuba twice for recreational diving, and that was for deep wrecks. I still use compressed air a lot, but only for commercial work and teaching scuba. My point is that I have become more scared of getting hit, the more I don't use scuba. I have 4 friends who have been hit while "inside" their computers,no deco, on liveaboard trips. Freediving is so much more pure and gentle, but I do remember the attraction to compressed gas diving and don't look down at anyone who likes it.
That said, the risk of DCS is too high when freediving is combined with scuba for me. The thought of spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair horrifies me to no end. No more diving, no running, no biking, no freedom, no making love to my wife. Does she deserve to have to take care of me for the rest of her life? She would do it, but I won't do that to her, or myself.
When I started fdiving, I used a scuba computer....it hated me, and actually started to load nitrogen on the graph, as a way to penalize me for the rapid ascents. Not that I cared about that; I just wanted a guage, but combining scuba and freediving profiles would not make any computer happy I think. I don't know what a Stinger or Mosquito would do in this situation, since you can go in and out of freedive mode. I wont be the one to strap one on and see.
Freediver mag has a very good article on this topic in the latest issue...very scientific, and the article boils down to "No Way".
Sickboy, I consider you a friend, if a cyber-friend. I would not like to read a post from you saying that you will have to live up to your Cyber-name for the rest of your life. The world is very small, maybe we might have an opportunity to dive together if you don't injure yourself? I'm being dramatic because the consequences of toying with the "art" of decompression theory can be dramatic. Have scuba days, and have freedive days on your trip. Drink lots of fluids, and enjoy the looks of disbelief from the scuba people when you tell them that you are happy to spend some days only freediving.
Sincerely,
Erik Young